1. EU MEDIterranean Acoustic Survey on Small Pelagics “MEDIAS”
GFCM, ISMIR, September 2008

2. Current status (E.U. states)
In the Mediterranean 5 direct surveys on small pelagic fish are regularly held at least during the last decade.
Iberian coast (IEO) ECOMED
Gulf of Lions (IFREMER) PELMED
Adriatic Sea (ISMAR) & Slovenia
Sicilian channel & Malta (IAMC) ANCHOVY
Aegean Sea (HCMR) ANCHOVY
Concerning The current status of the small pelagic surveys in the Mediterranean regarding EU countries we have 5 direct surveys regura……

3. These surveys mainly target on anchovy and sardine
Cover the major stocks of these species in the Mediterranean European Union waters
In the new DCR all EU acoustic surveys will be funded.
A workshop took place in Athens between 25 and 26 /2/2008. During this meeting a common protocol for all the EU Mediterranean acoustic surveys has been adopted
In the framework of DCR this Pan-Mediterranean acoustic survey will be coordinated by a steering committee which has been approved by RCM Med

4. Name
Country
Athanassios Machias
Greece
HCMR
Marianna Giannoulaki
Bernard Liorzou
France
IFREMER
Jacques Masse
Mark Dimech
Malta
MCFS
Tomaz Modic
Slovenia
FRIS
Andrea De Felice
Italy
CNR-ISMAR
Iole Leonori
Angelo Bonanno
CNR- IAMC
Dolores Onate
Spain
IEO
Magdalena Iglesias
Antonio Cervantes
EC–DG Fish and Maritime Affairs
Stylianos Somarakis
Facilitator of the WG on Small pelagics (GFCM)

5. Echo sounder parameters
Split beam
Frequency for assessment (kHz) 38
Complementary frequencies (kHz)
120, 200 depending on availability.
Pulse duration (ms)
1 ms
Beam Angle
Should be reported
Ping rate
Maximum depending on depth
Calibration (No per survey)
A calibration report should be given (Annex III)
One calibration per survey
Threshold for acquisition (dB)
-80
Threshold for assessment (dB)
-70 to -60 (reported)
Survey design
Transects design
Perpendicular to the coastline/bathymetry, otherwise depending on topography
The survey design should be reported.
Inter-transect distance (NM)
Max <=12 NM.
Time of day for acoustic sampling
Day time.
Otherwise, in cases of time limitation and if echo allocation into species does not depend on school shape identification (in this case justification of the accuracy of results will be presented)
EDSU (nm)
1 NM
Distance from the coast according to the Bottom depth (min, m)
At least 20 m bottom depth, minimum 10 m of echo-sampling.
Echo sounding depth (min, m)
Depending on the draught of RV. Should be reported
Echo sounding depth (max, m) recording.
200 m
Vessel speed
8-10 knots
Software for analysis
Movies and/or Echoview
File format
*.hac
Inter - transect
Acoustic energy in the inter-transect track will not be taken into account
Applied TS (dB)
Keep historical TS equations.
Echo partitioning into species
Echo trace classification based on echogram visual scrutinisation
Direct allocation and
allocation on account of representative fishing station

6. Abundance estimates
Abundance indices estimated
Total fish NASC per EDSU
Target Species NASC per EDSU
Biomass per EDSU per target species
Numbers per EDSU per target species
Number/age/Target species
Biomass/age/Target species
Maps and charts
Point maps of total fish NASC
Point maps of target species in NASC/mile; biomass / mile.
Catch compositions of the hauls, pie-charts indicating biomass per species
Common database
Issues of common database will be established by the participants
Discussed the possibility to collaborate with the Atlantic survey
Fish sampling
Target species
Anchovy, Sardine
Other species
Biological data for all species in the pelagic community: Length-Weight relationships; Length distribution.
Fishing gear
Pelagic trawl,
Codend and trawl characteristics should be reported.
Max Codend mesh size = 24 mm (side of mesh = 12 mm).
Duration of haul
Minimum 30 min for unknown echoes
Vessel speed during fishing
3.5 – 4.5 knots
Sampling intensity, no of hauls
The total number of hauls has to be adequate to
ensure identification of echo traces
obtain length structure of the population
obtain species composition
get biological samples
Biological and oceanographic parameters
Length
All species: Total length (TL), Length frequency distribution (0.5 cm)
Age readings, ALK
Sardine, Anchovy: Mean TL at age
Sample sizes according to the new DCR.
Length - Weight
All pelagic species
Oceanographic. Parameter (CTD)
Minimum 3 CTD per transect or grid of stations with density adequate to describe the oceanography of the area.
Minimum variables: T, S

7. In the framework of the DCR at least one meeting will be held every year
During these meetings the MEDIAS survey will be further harmonized.